Film washing tank nozzle assembly



Aug. 27, 1963 G. HOLLANDS FILM WASHING TANK NOZZLE ASSEMBLY Filed June 24, 1 960 9. INVENTOR GEORGE HOLLANDS BYggf/ I v 4J4 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,101,659 FILM WASHING TANK N @ZZLE ASSEMBLY George Hollands, Franklin Square, N.Y., assignor to Bar-ray Products, Inc, Brooklyn, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed June 24, 1960, Ser. No. 38,496 6 Claims. (Cl. 95-97) This invention relates to tanks or similar vessels wherein water is continuously or intermittently circulated. More particularly, this invention relates to processing equipment, such as a tank or the like, wherein, during the operating cycle thereof, fresh water is introduced continuously into the tank at one point while water is simultaneously being drained from the tank at another point. Wash tanks for photographic prints and temperature control tanks wherein a plurality of metallic tanks are immersed in water of controlled temperature circulated in a larger tank are examples of the processing equipment referred to herein.

Still more particularly, this invention relates to water circulating tanks having algaecidal properties whereby the frequent shut-downs and cleanings heretofore associted with water circulating tanks are obviated.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a water circulating device for use in a tank or the like which is adapted to keep the walls of the tank and of equipment immersed in the tank substantially free of algae for long periods of time.

A further object of this invention is to provide a wash tank or like processing equipment which may be used for substantial periods of time without requiring shut down for cleaning to remove accumulated algae deposits.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a water inlet nozzle assembly and fittings having algaecidal properties, which assembly may be used with metal tankswithout danger of corrosion.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide processing equipment having effective algaecidal action, notwithstanding a constant simultaneous introduction and draining olf of water which would render impractical the use of algaesidic compounds heretofore known.

To attain these objects and such further objects as may appear herein or be hereinafter pointed out, reference is made to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, in which FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a tank to which has been applied the novel nozzle sub-assembly;

FIGURE 2 is a magnified fragmentary section taken on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a magnified vertical section through the nozzle and fittings therefor showing the components prior to final assembly;

FIGURE 4 is .a front end elevational view of the nozzle assembly taken in the direction of the arrows 4-4 of FIGURE 2.

There is shown in FIGURE 1 a tank which represents a wash tank for photographic prints, it being understood however that the utility of the invention is not limited to wash tanks or photographic processing equipment but, rather, extends to a variety of uses wherein water is circulated in a tank or other containing vessel.

The tank 10 is provided with inner and outer stainless steel walls 11, 12, respectively, applied over the walls of insulated structural core member 13. The tank It), at .a point adjacent the bottom 14 may be provided with the usual drain plug and/or drain valve 15 for use when the tank is to be emptied. A passage 16 is formed through the walls 11, 12 of the tank adjacent the bottom 14, in which passage there is secured the nozzle or inlet plug assembly 17.

Nozzle or inlet plug assembly 17 includes a fitting 18 having a threaded cylindrical shank 19 and including a disk-like flange 20 at its inner end. The fitting 18 is made of an electrical insulating material, such as nylon, polyethylene, polyvinylchloride or the like, and is provided with an internally threaded axial bore 21 extending the entire length of the fitting 18. The fitting 18 is secured in bore 16 by nut 23, which may be tightened over shank 19 after gasket 22 has been interposed between the flange 2t and wall 11, and washer 24 has been placed between the nut 23 and the wall 12. Pipe nipple 25, which is connected to a water source, is threaded into the outer end of bore 21.

A distributor spray nozzle 26 is threaded into the inner end of bore 21 within the tank 10.

The spray nozzle 26 includes a hexagonal collar 27 to facilitate insertion and is provided with an inner graduated passage 28 (see FIGURE 3) in communication with bore 21 of the fitting 18. The passage 23 terminates at orifice 29, the spray nozzle 26 being provided with a hooded or angularl-y oriented deflector portion 30, interposed in the jet path of water emanating from orifice 29. The hood or deflector portion 30 is preferably oriented to deflect the jet stream downwardly toward the bottom 14 of the tank.

In order to secure the desired algaecidic effects, it

v has been discovered that the nozzle 26, or at least the deflector portion 36 thereof, must be comprised of substantially pure metallic copper. It has been found that a copper containing about 5% of impurities is satisfactory in operation.

It has been discovered that various copper containing alloys such as brass or bronze, exhibit no discernible algaecidic properties when substituted in identical form for the pure copper nozzle herein described.

A similarly satisfactory algae-free condition will not be obtained merely by placing in the tank 10 a pure copper object of about the same surface area as the said nozzle. Rather, it has been discovered that unit most highly resistant to the formation of algae deposits is formed only where there is provided a jet of water, which jet is impinged against a deflector comprising substantially pure metallic copper.

While it is not the intention to be found by the following explanations, it is the theory that the eflicient algaecidic action aforesaid stems from the presence in the tank water of fairly considerable quantities of copper ions. It is the further theory that the presence of such ions in quantities suflicient to act as an algaecidicis induced by the combined use of a pure, as opposed to an adulterated or alloyed, copper nozzle and the provision of a water jet which is impinged against the copper deflector.

The pure copper used tends to react chemically much more readily than alloyed copper and such tendency is believed to explain why such pure copper is not considered desirable for use in nozzles or like applications. The action of the jet against the reactive copper is believed greatly to speed the ionization aforesaid and to distribute the ions throughout the tank. The downward- =ly directed flow of water propelled against the deflector portion tends to recirculate throughout the tank the layers of water adjacent the bottom of the tank, which layers are believed to contain the greatest concentrations of the heavier copper ions.

It is therefore desirable, in most applications, to remove overflowfrom near the top of the tank, as at 31, so as to remove from the tank that portion of the contents having the lowest concentration of copper.

It will be appreciated that the action of the jet stream against the pure copper deflect-or portion 30 will cause a loss of copper from this element, but it will be readily recognized that nozzle replacement may beeasily efiected, should this become necessary.

The described nozzle assembly will be understood to provide electrical isolation of the copper nozzle from the stainless steel tank in order to prevent electrolytic action between the aforesaid parts. Where the tank used is made of a non-metallicsubstance, the insulating fittings need not be employed.

The algaecidic properties of the described tank and nozzle sub-assembly have been tested and found so highly effective that quarterly cleaning is now possible in locations where Weekly cleaning or scraping of tank walls was required for algae removal. It will be readily recognized that unlike the device herein described, the use of conventional soluble valgaecides is unteasible in circulating systems where water is being constantly drained.

The algaecidic properties of the insulated deflector may likewise vary in effectiveness with the mineral quality of the wash water and, accordingly, the exten-siveness'ot the deflector will require modification in accordance with the conditions of Water encountered.

Having thus described the invention and illustrated its use, what is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

=1. An algae control unit -for a water circulating photographic tank comprising an electrically insulated fitting secured through a wall portion of said tank, means on said fitting outside said tank connected to a source of running vvater, and distributor nozzle means connected to said fitting in said tank, said last named means including a jet orifice and la deflector portion interposed in the flow path of said jet, said deflector portion consisting essentially of substantially pure metallic copper.

2. An algae control unit tor a water circulating photographic tank cornpnising an electrically insulated iitting mounted through a wall portion of said tank, means on said fitting outside said tank for connecting a source of running water, and distributor nozzle means connected to said fitting in said tank, said last named means including .a jet orifice and a deflector portion interposed in the flow pathof said jet, said deflector portion oi said nozzle consisting essentially of substantially pure metallic copper.

3. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said tank includes an outlet drain in proximate relation to the top of said tank.

4. A device inaccordance with claim 2 wherein said tank includes an outlet drainin proximate relation to the top of said tank.

5. An algae control unit tor a Watercirculating photographic tank comprising :a fitting secured through :a wall portion of said tank, means on said fitting outside said tank connected to a source of running water, and distributhor nozzle means connected to said fitting in said tank, said last narned means including a jet orifice and a deflector portion interposed in the now path of said jet, said deflector portion consisting essentially of substantially pure metallic copper.

'6. An algaecidal water circulating device comprising a tank, a fitting extending through a wall portion of said tank adjacent the bottom thereof, means on said fitting outside said tank connected to a source of running 'Water and distributor nozzle rneans connected to said fitting in said tank, said last named mean-s including a jet orifice and a deflector portion interposed in the flow path of said jet, said deflector portion being angularly oriented toward said bottom of said tank, said deflector portion consisting essentially of substantially pure metallic cop- OTHER REFERENCES McKay: Corrosion Resistance of Metals and Alloys," published in 1936, pages 4 211-423 and 431-432 cited. 

2. AN ALGAE CONTROL UNIT FOR WATER CIRCULATING PHOTOGRAPHIC TANK COMPRISING AN ELECTRICALLY INSULATED FITTING MOUNTED THROUGH A WALL PORTION OF SAID TANK, MEANS ON SAID FITTING OUTSIDE SAID TANK FOR CONNECTING A SOURCE OF RUNNING WATER, AND DISTRIBUTOR NOZZLE MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID FITTING IN SAID TANK, SAID LAST NAMED MEANS IN- 